DEMEROL Description

(Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection, USP)

11 DESCRIPTION

DEMEROL (meperidine hydrochloride injection) is an opioid agonist available as a sterile aqueous solution, for intramuscular, intravenous, or subcutaneous administration. It contains meperidine hydrochloride as the active pharmaceutical ingredient. Meperidine hydrochloride chemical name is 4‑Piperidinecarboxylic acid, 1‑methyl-4-phenyl-,ethyl ester, hydrochloride. The molecular weight is 283.79 g/mol. Its molecular formula is C15H21NO2·HCl, and it has the following chemical structure.

Chemical Structure

Meperidine hydrochloride is a white crystalline substance with a melting point of 186° C to 189° C, and it is readily soluble in water.

DEMEROL (meperidine hydrochloride injection) is available as:

Single-dose Carpuject cartridge with Luer Lock for the Carpuject Syringe System: 25 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL, 75 mg/mL, and 100 mg/mL. Each mL of Single-dose cartridge contains 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg or 100 mg of meperidine hydrochloride USP (equivalent to 21.79 mg, 43.58 mg, 65.36 mg or 87.15 mg of meperidine), respectively, and sodium hydroxide NF, and hydrochloric acid NF as pH adjusters, in water for injection. Only the 25 mg strength contains 3.8 mg of sodium chloride USP as isotonicity agent.

Multiple-dose vials: 1,500 mg/30 mL (50 mg/mL) strength. Each mL of vial contains 50 mg of meperidine hydrochloride USP (equivalent to 43.58 mg of meperidine), 1 mg of meta-cresol USP, as a preservative, and sodium hydroxide NF, and hydrochloric acid NF as pH adjusters, in water for injection.

Single-dose NexJect™ Prefilled Syringe with Luer Lock: 25 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL strengths. Each mL contains 25 mg or 50 mg of meperidine hydrochloride USP (equivalent to 21.79 mg or 43.58 mg of meperidine), respectively, and sodium hydroxide NF, and hydrochloric acid NF as pH adjusters, in water for injection. Only the 25 mg strength contains 3.8 mg of sodium chloride USP as isotonicity agent.

The pH of DEMEROL (meperidine hydrochloride injection) solutions is between 3.5 and 6.0.

DEMEROL (meperidine hydrochloride injection) 5 percent solution has a specific gravity of 1.0086 at 20°C, and the 10 percent solution has a specific gravity of 1.0165 at 20°C.

Find DEMEROL medical information:

Find DEMEROL medical information:

Our scientific content is evidence-based, scientifically balanced and non-promotional. It undergoes rigorous internal medical review and is updated regularly to reflect new information.

DEMEROL Quick Finder

Prescribing Information
Download Prescribing Information

Health Professional Information

Description

11 DESCRIPTION

DEMEROL (meperidine hydrochloride injection) is an opioid agonist available as a sterile aqueous solution, for intramuscular, intravenous, or subcutaneous administration. It contains meperidine hydrochloride as the active pharmaceutical ingredient. Meperidine hydrochloride chemical name is 4‑Piperidinecarboxylic acid, 1‑methyl-4-phenyl-,ethyl ester, hydrochloride. The molecular weight is 283.79 g/mol. Its molecular formula is C15H21NO2·HCl, and it has the following chemical structure.

Chemical Structure

Meperidine hydrochloride is a white crystalline substance with a melting point of 186° C to 189° C, and it is readily soluble in water.

DEMEROL (meperidine hydrochloride injection) is available as:

Single-dose Carpuject cartridge with Luer Lock for the Carpuject Syringe System: 25 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL, 75 mg/mL, and 100 mg/mL. Each mL of Single-dose cartridge contains 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg or 100 mg of meperidine hydrochloride USP (equivalent to 21.79 mg, 43.58 mg, 65.36 mg or 87.15 mg of meperidine), respectively, and sodium hydroxide NF, and hydrochloric acid NF as pH adjusters, in water for injection. Only the 25 mg strength contains 3.8 mg of sodium chloride USP as isotonicity agent.

Multiple-dose vials: 1,500 mg/30 mL (50 mg/mL) strength. Each mL of vial contains 50 mg of meperidine hydrochloride USP (equivalent to 43.58 mg of meperidine), 1 mg of meta-cresol USP, as a preservative, and sodium hydroxide NF, and hydrochloric acid NF as pH adjusters, in water for injection.

Single-dose NexJect™ Prefilled Syringe with Luer Lock: 25 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL strengths. Each mL contains 25 mg or 50 mg of meperidine hydrochloride USP (equivalent to 21.79 mg or 43.58 mg of meperidine), respectively, and sodium hydroxide NF, and hydrochloric acid NF as pH adjusters, in water for injection. Only the 25 mg strength contains 3.8 mg of sodium chloride USP as isotonicity agent.

The pH of DEMEROL (meperidine hydrochloride injection) solutions is between 3.5 and 6.0.

DEMEROL (meperidine hydrochloride injection) 5 percent solution has a specific gravity of 1.0086 at 20°C, and the 10 percent solution has a specific gravity of 1.0165 at 20°C.

Medication Guide

Health Professional Information

{{section_name_patient}}

{{section_body_html_patient}}

Resources

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Contact us.

MI Digital Assistant

Chat online with Pfizer Medical Information regarding your inquiry on a Pfizer medicine.

Call 800-438-1985*

*Speak with a Pfizer Medical Information Professional regarding your medical inquiry. Available 9AM-5Pm ET Monday to Friday; excluding holidays.

Medical Inquiry

Submit a medical question for Pfizer prescription products.

Report Adverse Event

Pfizer Safety

To report an adverse event related to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and you are not part of a clinical trial* for this product, click the link below to submit your information:

Pfizer Safety Reporting Site

*If you are involved in a clinical trial for this product, adverse events should be reported to your coordinating study site.

If you cannot use the above website, or would like to report an adverse event related to a different Pfizer product, please call Pfizer Safety at (800) 438-1985.

FDA Medwatch

You may also contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directly to report adverse events or product quality concerns either online at www.fda.gov/medwatch or call (800) 822-7967.